Chapter 2 - American Rev (SSUSH3, SSUSH4)

SSUSH 3a - Why did the British government decide to start taxing the colonists in the 1760's?

• to build new roads and make other improvements in the colonies

• to raise money after the costs of the French and Indian War

• to increase the powers of the royal governors in the colonies

• to encourage more colonists to return to Great Britain

Answer explanation

The British government decided to tax the colonists to raise money after the costs of the French and Indian War, which had significantly increased their debt and the need for revenue from the colonies.

SSUSH 3b - Why did the Proclamation Line of 1763 anger many American colonists?

• It prohibited colonists from settling in the Ohio River Valley

• It promoted peaceful relations with Indian tribes in the west

• It increased the taxes that the colonists paid to Britain

• It gave too much land away to Canada

Answer explanation

The Proclamation Line of 1763 angered many American colonists because it prohibited them from settling in the Ohio River Valley, limiting their expansion and access to new lands after the French and Indian War.

SSUSH 3b - How were the Committees of Correspondence, Sons of Liberty, and Daughters of Liberty similar?

• They were all Loyalist organizations

• They were limited to the New England colonies

• They all invited the participation of both men and women

• They were organizations formed in opposition to British policies

Answer explanation

The Committees of Correspondence, Sons of Liberty, and Daughters of Liberty were all formed in opposition to British policies, uniting colonists against British rule and advocating for colonial rights.

SSUSH 4a - What was the main purpose for writing the Declaration of Independence?

• to create a framework for a new democratic government in America

• to explain the colonists' reasons for separating from Great Britain

• to offer King George III a compromise that would end the conflict

• to persuade the Loyalists to move to Canada

Answer explanation

The main purpose of the Declaration of Independence was to explain the colonists' reasons for separating from Great Britain, outlining grievances and justifying their decision to seek independence.

SSUSH 4a- Which argument is found in the Declaration of Independence?

• The British government has failed to respect the rights of the Native Americans

• The colonists have the same right to change their government because it has violated the very rights it is supposed to protect

• The colonists have the right to declare independence because the British government is too far away to govern effectively

• The colonists should be able to elect their own representatives to Parliament before the British government imposes any more taxes.

Answer explanation

The Declaration of Independence argues that the colonists have the right to elect their own representatives to avoid unjust taxation, reflecting their desire for self-governance and fair representation.

SSUSH 4f - How was the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 a victory for the United States?

• Great Britain was forced to form an alliance with France

• Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation

• The French and Indian War was over and colonists could move west

• American Patriots signed an alliance with France to help them win the American Revolution

Answer explanation

The signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783 was a victory for the United States because Great Britain recognized the United States as an independent nation, formally ending the conflict and establishing sovereignty.

SSUSH 4b - What was the significance of the Battle of Saratoga in 1777?

• The Continental Army ended the British threat in the South

• The British decided to grant the colonists their independence

• The British were able to divide the colonies into two separate parts

• The French were persuaded to enter the war as an ally of the colonists

Answer explanation

The significance of the Battle of Saratoga in 1777 was that it convinced France to enter the war as an ally of the colonists, providing crucial support that helped turn the tide against the British.

SSUSH 4a - How did Thomas Jefferson MOST contribute to the outcome of the American Revolution?

• by serving as a US Senator from Virginia

• by writing the Declaration of Independence

• by being elected as President of the United States

• by serving as a general in the Continental Army

Answer explanation

Thomas Jefferson's most significant contribution to the American Revolution was writing the Declaration of Independence, which articulated the colonies' desire for freedom and justified their break from British rule.

SSUSH 4d - Which factor MOST contributed to the American victory in the Battle of Yorktown (1781)?

• the support of the French navy and of French troops

• George Washington's victory at the Battle of Trenton

• the orders of King George III, which confused General Cornwallis

• support from the German mercenaries who surrendered at Trenton

Answer explanation

The support of the French navy and troops was crucial at Yorktown, enabling the American and French forces to effectively besiege Cornwallis, leading to his surrender and securing American victory.

SSUSH 4e - Why did so many American Indian tribes support the British during the American Revolution?

• They felt a sense of loyalty to King George III

• They feared the colonists would take away their lands

• They felt regret for supporting the French in the French and Indian War

• They did not believe in the equality promised by the Declaration of Independence

Answer explanation

Many American Indian tribes supported the British during the American Revolution because they feared the colonists would take away their lands, which was a significant concern given the expansionist tendencies of the settlers.